Reconsidering the Paracel Islands Dispute: An International Law Perspective

Christopher Budd, Dalbir Ahlawat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The Paracel Islands dispute has recently resurfaced as a source of conflict between Vietnam and China, who both claim sovereignty over the islands from ‘time immemorial’. This article re-examines their respective claims from an international law perspective. It also focuses on delineating the respective claims with emphasis on sovereignty, territory and self-determination. Based on available sources, this article suggests that Vietnam appears to have a more credible sovereignty claim over the Paracel Islands vis-à-vis China. Having thus assumed Vietnamese sovereignty, this article then sets out to explore the maritime zones that Vietnam would be entitled to under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)661-682
Number of pages22
JournalStrategic Analysis
Volume39
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Nov 2015

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